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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

Thank you for the replies. To be clear, here is an excerpt of the piece played by Martha Argerich. Martha Argerich - Bach Partita No. 2 - Verbier Festival 2008 When I look for it on Amazon and Sheetmusicplus.com there isn't much detail regarding the contents of the books. I want to make sure I'm buying the right thing.

"... When I look for it on Amazon and Sheetmusicplus.com there isn't much detail regarding the contents of the books. I want to make sure I'm buying the right thing."

And this, Mr. H., is why I like stores better than online anything. My local music store will order anything I want anything that is available, at competitive prices, and if I am not satisfied when I see the merchandise, there is no requirement that I buy it. Maybe they put it out on the rack, maybe they send it back--- I don't know, but it has worked well for me (and for them, too; I have been a good customer). And I like them. And they like my dog.

I don't know if you would get much of a response from Amazon, but calling or e-mailing sheetmusic.com (or one of the other real music stores--- Alfred, Hal Leonard, etc) would, I would imagine, get you the assistance you need to make a decision. Anyway, they accept returns if you are not satisfied.

Good luck. I am very partial to the Partitas and I find it warms my heart to know that you are reaching out to bring them into your world. Some of us have several editions at hand...

Hey--- what could it hurt to write to Martha and ask her what edition she likes? I'm sure she has gotten lots of letters that have pleased her less.

[...]When I look for it on Amazon and Sheetmusicplus.com there isn't much detail regarding the contents of the books. I want to make sure I'm buying the right thing.

As has already been indicated, there is a link above to IMSLP which has the score you can download for free and print out, since it's public domain.

If you want a bound, printed, commercially purchased score, I don't think that you will find any music sellers listing contents; there's not much content to list. It's standard repertoire written for keyboard (now most frequently played on the piano) but it's not "arranged" for piano. The only thing you need to guard against is an edition that says it's "arranged" for some other instrument - a highly unlikely possibility, by the way.

Or, try supporting your local music store by having them order a copy for you. It's hard being in the sheet music business these days, and your local businesses need your support more than Amazon does.

Mark_C
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Registered: 11/11/09
Posts: 19969
Loc: New York

Are we clear yet on what's the issue?I'm not.

Mr. H: The good news is that any edition of the 6 Bach Partitas for keyboard will include a complete score of this piece -- unless you mean something quite unusual when you say "arranged for piano." You haven't said what you meant by that. Regarding being sure you're "buying the right thing," you needn't have any worries at all. Maybe you didn't realize that the keyboard version is the 'real' version, or maybe you didn't realize that the same editions are for harpsichord and piano?

It's standard repertoire written for keyboard (now most frequently played on the piano) but it's not "arranged" for piano.

Indulging my pedantic streak a bit - I think the partitas were written for the harpsichord, not the generic abstract "keyboard" of the WTC. And, since the Bishchoff edition has been mentioned, I think it could be argued that the dynamics added by the editor (for example, crescendos, which aren't possible on the harpsichord) mean that it was "arranged for piano", in some sense.

It's standard repertoire written for keyboard (now most frequently played on the piano) but it's not "arranged" for piano.

Indulging my pedantic streak a bit - I think the partitas were written for the harpsichord, not the generic abstract "keyboard" of the WTC. And, since the Bishchoff edition has been mentioned, I think it could be argued that the dynamics added by the editor (for example, crescendos, which aren't possible on the harpsichord) mean that it was "arranged for piano", in some sense.

True, no doubt, but you're possibly now confusing the OP who is not - may I say it? - at this level of distinction and/or sophistication.

I would counter argue by saying that I think that no one would argue that an Urtext would be considered as being "arranged for piano."

Mark_C
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Registered: 11/11/09
Posts: 19969
Loc: New York

Originally Posted By: BruceD

....I would counter argue by saying that I think that no one would argue that an Urtext would be considered as being "arranged for piano."

I would add (or counter?) that hardly anyone would argue that any edition of the keyboard partitas (or harpsichord partitas or whatever we want to call them) would be considered as being "arranged for piano."

I think the OP's question was based on a simple misunderstanding, although exactly what, we don't know.

It's standard repertoire written for keyboard (now most frequently played on the piano) but it's not "arranged" for piano.

Indulging my pedantic streak a bit - I think the partitas were written for the harpsichord, not the generic abstract "keyboard" of the WTC. And, since the Bishchoff edition has been mentioned, I think it could be argued that the dynamics added by the editor (for example, crescendos, which aren't possible on the harpsichord) mean that it was "arranged for piano", in some sense.

True, no doubt, but you're possibly now confusing the OP who is not - may I say it? - at this level of distinction and/or sophistication.

I would counter argue by saying that I think that no one would argue that an Urtext would be considered as being "arranged for piano."

Since an Urtext of the partitas wouldn't include any "playable on a piano, but not a harpsichord" markings, you are right. The arrangement issue would not even come up, since there would be nothing specific to the piano that would prompt it.